Fluid heater



Feb. 4, 1930. l. HARTER FLUID HEATER Filed Dec. 10, 1925 A TTORNE K!"INI EA'TOA 91m MAM Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE jISAAC HARTER, F DONGAN HILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BAIBCOGK & WECOXCOMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FLUIDHEATER Application filed December 10, 1925. Serial No. 74,433.

My present invention relates to fluid heaters, suchas steam boilers andthe like, and particularly to means for preventing the sagging of tubesin such heaters. My invention will be best understood from the followingdescription and the annexed drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side sectionalview of a part of a steam boiler of a well-known type which tubes 13,preferably horizontally extending as shown, are connected to theheaders, rows 15 and 16 being widely spaced from each other and from thelower row 1'4 of the bank 13. Preferably rows .14, 15 and 16 are notstaggered, but are arranged so that a tube of one 2 of these rows isdirectly below a tube of the next higher row, in order to moreeffectively screen out the slag particles rising with the furnace gases.The gases flow over thelower bank of tubes, then over the superheater,then between headers 10 and the baffle 19 and then down over thedowntakeends of the tubes 12 to the gasoutlet between the nipples 20.

In such arrangements, the lower tubes are subjected to intense heat andare usually of ble to sag if unsupported between their ends. In theillustrative embodiment, this sagging is limited, if not entirelyobviated, by provi'ding a-plurality of thin metallic plates 21 along thelength of each of the tubes in the lower rows andbetween the ends of thetubes, such plates being welded to each of a pair of tubes in adjacentrows. By this means, each pair of. tubes becomes a kind of beam of adepth equal to the distance between the top of the upper tube and thebottom of the lower tube, which obviously will provide a greaterresistance to sagging than if the tubes were not connected. Moreover, bymaking a good thermal connection to the relatively cool considerablelength. They are therefore liatubes, the plates can be maintained at atemperature which will retard their burning out. Such plates wil'l'notinterfere with the flow of the gases, particularly where the tubes.

are not staggered, as in the arrangement illustrated. Such plates, asillustrated, prefrably lie in the lane passing through the axes of thetwo tu es. By arranging the plates in this manner, the tubes serve as ascreen for the metallic plates from the direct heat of the furnace. 1While preferably I weld the plates to the tubes, as by autogenouswelding, some of the benefits of my invention may be obtained byclamping the plates or other connecting members to the tubes. It willalso be understood that the embodiment of my invention may bewidelyvaried.

I claim: v 1., In a fluid heater, chambers spaced apart, a plurality ofrows oftubes havin their ends connected to said chambers, wit the rowsspaced apart, and a thin metallic plate located between said chambersand between a tube of one row and a tube of a row spaced therefrom andfixedly connected to each of said tubes.

2. In a fluid heater, chambers spaced apart, a plurality of rows oftubes having their ends connected to said chambers, with the rows spacedapart, and a thin metallic plate located between said chambers andbetween a tube of one row and a tube of the next adjacent row and weldedto each of said tubes.

3. In a fluid heater, chambers spaced apart, a plurality of rows oftubes having their ends connected to said chambers, with the rows spacedapart and each tube of one row directly opposite a tube of another row,and a plurality of thin metallic plates located between said chambersand each plate fixedly connected to a tube of one row and the directlyopposite tube of another row.

4. In a fluid heater, chambers spaced apart, a plurality of rows oftubes havin their ends connected to said chambers, wit

the rows s aced apart and each tube of one row direct y opposite a tubeof the next adjacent row, and a plurality of thin metallic plateslocated between said chambers and each plate welded to a tube of one rowand to the directly opposite tube of another row.

5. In a fluid heater and a furnace therefor, a plurality of rows oftubes subjected to the heat of the furnace, and a metallic plate locatedbetween a tube of one row and a tube of a higher row intermediate theends of said tubes, said plate extending longitudinally of said tubesand fixedly connected to each of t em. a 6. In a fluid heater and afurnace therefor, a plurality of rowsof tubes subjected to the heat ofthe furnace,'the tubes of one row being arranged directly above thetubes of a lower row, and. a metallic plate located between a tube ofone row and a tube of a higher row intermediate the ends of said tubes,said plate extending lon 'tudinally of said tubes and fixedly connect toeach of them.

7. In a fluid heater and a furnace therefor, a plurality of rows ofhorizontally extending tubes subjected to the heat of the furnace, and ametallic plate located between a tube of one row and a tube of a higherrow, said plate lying in the plane of the axes of the two tubes andlocated intermediate the ends thereof, said plateextending'longitudinally of. said tubes and fixedly connected toeach ofthem.

. 8. In a fluid heater and a furnace therefor, a pass for the flow ofheatin gases through said furnace, a plurality o spaced apart rows ofsubstantlally horizontal tubes ex- 5 tending across said pass, bracingmeans located in a plane including the axes of separate verticallyspaced tubes for rigidly connecting said tubes at a succession of pointswithin said plane so as to provide a beam-like 40 unitary structure inwhich the resistance to sagging of each of said tubes is materiallyincreased, said means bein constructed and arranged to permit free ow ofgases past said tubes. ISAAC HARTER.

